First Down (Texas Titans #3) (3 page)

“What do you do for fun, Alana?” He knew he’d caught her off guard, which had been his intent. “I think you can tell a lot about a person by their hobbies, don’t you?”

“I guess,” she said warily.

“So…?”

“I love sports,” she admitted, looking a little sheepish. “That was part of the reason I was so excited about this job.”

“Sports?” He tried to hide his disbelief. In his experience, women who looked like her had rarely heard of a line drive, much less hit a fastball. “Really?”

“Don’t look so surprised,” she said, laughing. “I have three brothers. I was a real tomboy growing up.”

“Is that so?” Asking her to create a picture of her life was a mistake, especially since he was determined not to like her.

“Yeah, I played just about every sport. I haven’t had a lot of time for organized sports,” she said, licking her lips. “But I still manage to work out. I’m kind of addicted to weights, and I love to run.”

She could be describing me.
Grayson would be in real trouble if she continued to give him reasons to like her. How was he supposed to keep the best interests of their company in the forefront of his mind if he was blinded by her gorgeous smile? Weight training certainly explained those ridiculous curves and toned arms. “They say diet is 80% and exercise is 20%. You think that’s true?”

“I do. I try to eat clean, but I love having a greasy cheeseburger and crispy fries on my cheat day.” Her cheeks turned pink. “How bad is that?”

He grinned. “You’re a woman after my own heart. Listen, you feel like a cheat night tonight? Once you earn it, of course.” A little voice in his head told him he was crazy to even suggest it, but he figured a social setting could help lower her defenses. Besides, he wanted to find out if she could really hold her own in the gym or was just feeding him a line.

“I don’t think—”

“It’s a business dinner, of course. I was planning to hit the gym after work anyways. I just thought you might like to come with me?”

“In that case, I’d love to.” She smiled. “Thanks for the invite, Grayson.”

“My pleasure.” He wrote his cell number on the back of a business card. “Why don’t you text me the address of where you’re staying? If five o’clock works for you, we can hit the gym, shower there, and head out for dinner. Just bring a change of clothes with you.”

“Sounds great.” Alana stood and offered her hand. “It was a pleasure meeting you.”

“You too.” He hoped she’d turn out to be everything she seemed; otherwise, he was setting himself up for disappointment.

***

Alana stared at her reflection in the full-length mirror on the door of her friend’s childhood bedroom. She did a half spin to look at her backside in the mirror. She didn’t go anywhere without her running gear, so she hadn’t had to scramble to find something to wear to the gym. Alana was still perplexed by Grayson’s offer. He’d seemed to be looking for reasons not to like her, so why had he asked her out? Was it a ploy to get her to lower her defenses? If so, he wouldn’t get very far. She was an expert at dealing with manipulative men.

When she heard a knock on the bedroom door, she glanced at the digital clock on the bedside table. It was too early for Grayson to make an appearance, unless he was hoping to arrive early to extract information from Kari and her mother. If that was his plan, he would hit a dead end. That pair was as loyal as anyone she’d ever known, which was why she loved them like family.

“Come in,” Alana called.

Kari opened the door and leaned against the doorframe. “Mama said you were going out. I thought she said you had a date, but it looks like you’re going for a run.”

“A gym date,” she said, swiping Chapstick over her lips. She’d packed sandals and a sundress in her gym bag. Hopefully Grayson wouldn’t want to go anywhere too fancy for dinner. “It’s not a date, really. It’s a business dinner.”

Kari pulled the elastic from her long, blond hair and shook her ponytail loose before rubbing her scalp. “How does the gym fit in?”

“I’m not really sure,” Alana admitted, sitting on the edge of the double bed. “He asked me what I do for fun. I told him I like to run, and next thing I know, we’re making plans to hit the gym before dinner. Weird, right?”

“It does sound kind of strange.” Kari kicked off her ballerina flats before wiggling her toes into the plush carpet. “Is he cute?”

Cute wasn’t the word Alana would have chosen to describe Grayson. Sexy. Arrogant. Gorgeous. Dangerous. But she didn’t want to alarm her friend, so she said, “You’ll see soon enough. He’s picking me up in about ten minutes. I hope that’s okay.”

Kari sat beside her on the bed and fell back, throwing her arms over her head. “You can consider this your home as long as you’re here. You know that.”

“I love you guys for that,” Alana said, glancing over her shoulder. “Rough day at work?”

Kari’s mother had been a single parent, so when Kari had decided to go to college in California, Joanie went along for the adventure. She’d rented a little house not far from campus where Kari and Alana would often go when they tired of the slop the cafeteria dished out. After graduating with a business degree, Kari had taken a leap by moving with Joanie to Arlington. Kari had opened a little jewelry store to sell her handmade wares, and so far, it had been well received. If Alana had to leave her family in Sacramento, being with Kari and her mother was the next best thing. The thought of moving to a strange city where she didn’t know a soul was a daunting prospect.

“It was a good day,” Kari said, stifling a yawn. “I finished a couple of pieces I’d been working on for a few days, sold a few pieces, and managed to finish preparing for the craft show in two weeks.”

“With any luck, I’ll be living here by then. I’ll help man the booth so you won’t have to pay anyone.”

“What would I do without you?” Kari rolled onto her side and propped her head in her hand.

Alana laughed. “You’ve managed just fine for the past seven years. Thank goodness for phones, video chats, and text messages though.”

“What would we have done without those?” Kari teased. “I still can’t believe I’m back here, living with my mother.”

Kari and her live-in boyfriend had parted ways late last year. Since she couldn’t afford to keep the business going and pay rent, she’d had to move back in with her mother.

“I’ve been thinking about that,” Alana said. “What if we got an apartment together?”

“Seriously?”

“Yeah, I think it would be fun.” Alana laughed. “Something bigger than our dorm room though. By our last semester, I was ready to hurl your shoes out the window. Every time I turned around, I was tripping over them.”

“I wasn’t that bad.” Kari laughed, nudging her friend’s backside with her knee.

“No, you were worse.” Alana bent to tie her sneakers.

Kari asked, “You would seriously want to live with me? I thought you were looking forward to having your own space after living with that control freak for so long.”

Alana had been staying with her parents since the divorce, mainly because she knew her ex wouldn’t dare hunt her down there. Her father was a retired police captain who would happily have Ronan’s butt thrown in jail if he caught a whiff of harassment. She hadn’t told her parents about Ronan’s manipulation, mainly because she didn’t want to worry them.

“I don’t know.” Alana tucked her foot under her knee. “It might be kind of fun, us living together again. What do you think?”

“I don’t know,” Kari said hesitantly. “You know I’d love to, but Mama’s letting me stay here rent-free so I can save up a down payment for a house. Figured it was time for me to grow up.”

“Yeah, I know what you mean,” Alana said. She’d been thinking about how nice it would be to have a little house of her own. One that she chose and decorated herself, not like the mausoleum her ex had bought behind her back and paid a team of designers to finish to his specifications. He’d never consulted her about even a stick of furniture. “I’ve been thinking the same thing. Maybe if this job pans out, I’ll be able to do that in a year or two, buy a little house of my own.”

“You’d be able to do it now if you’d just fought for what you deserved,” Kari said.

Alana loved her friend for looking out for her, but Kari would never understand the hell Ronan had put her through. By the time she finally broke free, she’d only wanted to cut all ties. Holding up their divorce in litigation would have been a nightmare. “I’m just glad it’s over. I’m finally rid of him, and I couldn’t be happier.” Alana got up when she heard a car pull into the gravel drive.

Kari snuck a peek out the window as Grayson slammed the door of his silver Aston Martin. “Oh my God…” Her face lost color, and her blue eyes went wide with shock.

“What’s wrong?” Alana asked, gripping her friend’s shoulder.

“I thought that was him for a minute.”

“Who?”

“Ronan.”

“Oh, yeah.” A nervous giggle escaped Alana’s lips. “The resemblance is uncanny, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, but he can’t possibly be as big an ass as your ex.”

“Don’t be so sure about that,” Alana said, linking arms with her friend. “Come on, let me introduce you to Mr. Wonderful. You can decide for yourself whether he’s the devil in disguise. Lord knows I can’t trust my own instincts.”

Quaint. That’s the word Grayson would have used to describe the little house where Alana was staying. It wasn’t at all what he’d been expecting. He’d pegged her for a gold digger, even though she claimed she hadn’t wanted anything from her ex. She’d no doubt married him for the cars, jewelry, clothes, trips… Grayson knew that type of woman too well. They wanted it all without expecting to give anything in return.

He must have been scowling, because when the petite gray-haired lady answered the door, she asked, “Would you like to try that again, son?”

“I’m sorry, ma’am,” Grayson said, feeling a little hot under the collar. She reminded him of his mother, who still scolded him when he forgot to mind his manners. “My name is Grayson. I’m here to pick up Alana. Is she ready?”

“She is,” she said, opening the door farther and gesturing for him to enter. “Come in. My name’s Joanie. I’m Kari’s mama. Can I get you a glass of sweet tea before y’all leave?”

“No thank you, ma’am. We really should get going. We have a dinner reservation after the gym.”

She laughed as she slid her silver-framed glasses up on her head. “I can’t say I’ve ever had a date take me to the gym. I guess you score points for originality.”

“Oh, this isn’t a date,” Grayson said quickly. “It’s just a business dinner. You see, my partner offered Alana a job and…” The words got stuck in his throat when he saw her descending the stairs in a black racer-back tank and running shorts. She hadn’t been kidding when she’d said she loved working out.

“Hello, Grayson,” Alana said, gripping the wood banister as she cleared the last step. “You’re right on time. Are you trying to set a good example by being punctual?”

She was teasing him, and he’d be damned if he wasn’t smiling. “I guess I am.” He glanced at her friend. She was short, blond, and curvy—the type he normally went for. But standing next to Alana, she didn’t hold his interest for more than a second.

“I’d like you to meet my closest friend,” Alana said, gripping the blonde’s hand. “Kari Bennington, I’d like you to meet Grayson Barrett.”

Kari’s eyes widened, and her mouth formed a little O before Alana squeezed her hand. “I’m sorry, Grayson.” Kari laughed lightly. “You just bear an uncanny resemblance to someone I used to know.”

Grayson had no doubt she was referring to Ronan. After Alana had left his office, he’d gone online to research her ex, and he had to admit the resemblance was startling. His mother had told him everyone had a twin, and he suspected his was making millions in Sacramento.

“It’s nice to meet you, Kari.” He took her hand.

“Have you met Joanie?” Alana asked, smiling at Kari’s mother.

“We have indeed, dear,” Joanie said.

“Well then, I guess we should be on our way,” Alana said.

Grayson glanced at the black gym bag over her shoulder. “I did mention we’d shower and change at the gym, didn’t I?”

“I have everything I need here.” Looking uncertain, she said, “That’s assuming dinner will be fairly casual? I didn’t plan to stay in town long on this trip, so I just brought a couple of sundresses. If that’s too casual for what you had in mind—”

“No, that’s perfect.” Grayson couldn’t deny he was surprised. He’d expected her to be a high maintenance girl who dressed to impress. Maybe he’d misjudged her, he thought, watching her give Kari and Joanie a peck on the cheek before promising she wouldn’t be home late. Grayson smiled at the mother and daughter waving to them as they made their way down the walk.

“I hope we’ll be seeing more of you,” Joanie called after them.

“Mama,” he heard Kari whisper, “he’s her boss, not her boyfriend.”

“No reason he can’t be both,” Joanie muttered.

“Oh God.” Alana grimaced as he opened the passenger door for her. “I love that woman with all my heart, but sometimes I think she was born without the part of your brain that censors your thoughts.”

Grayson laughed as she slid into the low leather seat and buckled up. “Sounds like my mama. She claims she’s too old to give a rip what anyone thinks. Problem is, she’s always been like that, so she can’t blame it on age.”

Alana looked up at him, flashing straight white teeth and shallow dimples.

“Damn, you’re too beautiful.” He hadn’t intended to say that aloud, but he couldn’t be sorry he had when he saw how flustered she got. She was cute when she was flustered.

“You didn’t say where we’re going for dinner,” she said as he started the car. She was obviously trying to change the subject.

He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. “Why is it so difficult for you to take a compliment, Alana?”

She pinched her lips together as though she was trying not to say the first thing that came to mind. “I guess I haven’t had a lot of practice.”

“Are you kidding? You must have to carry a can of mace in your purse just to ward off would-be suitors.”